‘CENTENARY OF MILITARY AVIATION’
AIR-SHOW at POINT COOK
I really enjoyed attending the air show at Point Cook. It was an amazing day, arriving 0845 and not leaving until 1500. It was a National Event, celebrating 100 years of Military Aviation in Australia and marking the Air Force’s major contribution to the Federal Government’s ‘Centenary of ANZAC’ commemorations.
3SQN participated as the representative unit of 81 Wing, with flying displays by F/A-18As and static ground displays. There was so much to see and watch in the air, as well as catching up with our old friend Chaplain Campbell Carroll (who travelled down from Butterworth and sends his best wishes to everyone).
It was a really special seeing flying displays from the planes of yesteryear (e.g. Hudson, Boomerang, Wirraway, Meteor…) right through to the present-day. Especially seeing some sights close-up for the first time, such as our F/A-18s being refuelled in mid-air by the huge KC30A tanker.
3SQN Pilots for the flying display were the CO, WGCDR Tim Alsop; XO, SQNLDR Jason Easthope; FLTLT Benjamin Sawley and FLGOFF Michael Newby. Around the static ground display, it was good to see SQNLDR Tim Ireland, SGT Daniel Nagy, CPL Joshua Paech, and LAC Benjamin Nolte, all working hard.
Fashion Corner…
Air Force launched its new ‘General Purpose Uniform’ (GPU) at the Centenary of Military Aviation air show at RAAF Williams, Point Cook. – It’s planned that all Air Force personnel will be issued with a mix of camouflage uniforms and GPUs by the end of 2015.
Pictured modelling the new threads are 3SQN
Maintenance Technicians (pictured left to right) LAC Benjamin
Nolte ATECH, SGT Daniel Nagy ATECH and CPL Joshua Paech
AVTECH.
[…Hmm, you may have to put in a little
work on your “modelling pouts” and “catwalk strutting”
there boys!]
The new uniform features attractive Arctic Blues, Greys and White in a ‘birch tree’ pattern. [But of course we mustn’t suspect that this means our Government soon intends to invade somewhere snowy, bleak and with lots of birch trees…!]